I get asked most of these questions at least once a day, so here’s a little FAQ post to spare you the trouble of messaging me. It will be posted on my tumblr as a sidebar link. :)

Have you really appeared in Doctor Who/Torchwood?
My voice has. I provided all vocals for the Siren, played by Lily Cole, in DW 6x03, “The Curse of the Black Spot.” It was a dream come true. I still can’t believe it happened.

As for Torchwood, I’m heard in episodes 7 and 9 in “Miracle Day,” doing background vocals for both (in episode 7, the scene where Jack is being killed and brought back again and again; in episode 9, the scene where Gwen’s dad is taken away by the ambulance).

How did you get the job(s)?
Because of YOU! Some lovely fellow DW fans sent my original cover of ‘Doomsday’ to Murray Gold via Twitter and he then contacted me privately to sing in series 6, and afterwards for Torchwood.

Will you be featured on DW again?
No idea! That’s up to him. :)

Where can I download your Doctor Who covers?
All covers to date (11/12/11) can be found here.

Your name is weird. How do you pronounce it? Where’s it from?
It’s pronounced HAH-leeuh Muh-GEED (with a hard ‘g’ as in ‘girl’). My father is Egyptian, so you can thank him for my impossible name.

What’s Murray Gold like in real life?
Absolutely wonderful.

Will you cover a song if I request it?
I’ll do my best! I’m quite busy ordinarily but if I have the time, I’ll certainly take a request into account.

Can I buy your songs anywhere?
Right now, they’re all free. :)

What kind of guitar do you use? Do you play any other instruments?
For recording, I use a Cort SFX acoustic or a Republic Highway 61 resonator. I also play piano.

How long have you been singing/playing guitar? Do you have any tips?
I’ve been singing my whole life, and taught myself guitar around age 15. (My mom is an incredible guitar player so having her around helped a bit too!) I’m not sure how much advice I can give about singing…the only training I’ve ever had has been classically-based. I sang opera when I was younger, and did tons of musical theater, and my directors kicked my butt with vocal lessons up the wazoo. Still, I use a ‘different’ voice when singing my own songs/covers, and that’s totally natural and hasn’t ever really been worked on professionally, though I’m sure it could use the work.

The most valuable, basic advice as a singer is just to breathe. When you inhale while singing, it should be completely silent. That means you’ve inhaled into your throat, trapping the breath, and this will likely make the note come out strangled and flat. Breathe deep into your belly. Rest your hands beneath your navel on your diaphragm, and let it swell up with air as you breathe, and then release a note. It’ll sound so much better and cleaner and more powerful. To do this impulsively takes work, so practice!

For guitar, buy yourself a chord book and learn by playing folk songs, which are all really easy and generally have no more than 3 chords per song. Once you’ve mastered the basics (C, G, F, D, A, E, B and the minor/flat variations thereupon) you’re ready for the big leagues and can start playing whatever you want. :)

Did you go to school for music?
Yes, I had private lessons at Julliard and Diller-Quaile as a kid and then obtained a Higher Diploma from the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London. After that I studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Do you know any of the Doctor Who cast?
No.

I have a song I’ve done for Doctor Who, can you send it to Murray Gold for me?
I’m afraid I can’t, you can always send it to him on Twitter though! He replies to most of his @’s. Good luck!